May 26, 2010 | The Times of India

Tata drives out with AC buses on city roads

Excerpts:

KOLKATA: Air-conditioned buses will finally start plying on regular routes in the city. Tata MarcoPolo Motors Ltd will begin delivery of 240 AC buses this weekend. The first lot of 36 buses has arrived in the city and pre-delivery checks have been completed on 12.

These are among the 300 AC buses that the state government had ordered under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme. While Volvo has already supplied its quota of 60 buses, Tata Motors will begin delivering its order only now. The state had also placed an order for 1,000 non-AC buses with Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland for plying in Kolkata and Asansol.

“We are ready to commence delivery of AC buses. Currently, drivers who will be operating the buses are being trained. We will hand over the first lot of 12 buses by the end of this week,” a Tata Motors official told TOI. Over the next couple of months, Tata MarcoPolo Motors will deliver the remaining AC buses in batches of 12 to 15 buses and expects to complete delivery of all 240 buses by July 2010.

The low-floor buses, with a floor height of 400 mm and 35 seats, are fitted with 240 HP electronic Cummins engine . The buses will also sport automatic transmission which will reduce driver fatigue. The buses will have pneumatic suspension at the front and rear to provide a smooth ride over bumps and potholes. The buses are also fitted with pneumatic doors and passenger information system.

On the supply of 570 non-AC buses, he said Tata Motors was ready with the entire lot. “STCs have taken delivery of 465 buses till date. The balance 105 buses will be delivered by middle of June. The deliveries commenced in September 2009 and are being handed over as and when required by the corporations,” he said.

Of the 127 buses that South Bengal State Transport Corporation had ordered on behalf of Asansol, Tata Motors has delivered 90 buses. The remaining 35 buses will also be handed over by mid-June.